How to Play Demons and Thieves Solitaire

A two-deck game with the tableau split in two: the left side builds down in opposite colors, the right side builds down in the same suit. Juggle both halves, plus a reserve pile, to fill eight foundations.

Setup

1. One card is dealt to a foundation to set this deal's random base rank; every foundation needs a card of that same rank to get started.
2. A single reserve pile holds 13 cards face down, with only the top card visible.
3. Deal 1 card to each of 4 left tableau piles and 8 cards to each of 5 right tableau piles.
4. Keep remaining cards in the stock to draw 1 at a time.

How to play

• Click the stock to deal 1 card to the waste pile.
• Play cards to build foundations up in suit from the base rank, wrapping around.
• The top reserve card can move to either tableau or to foundations.
• The left tableau builds down in opposite colors; the right tableau builds down in the same suit.
• You can move sequences together on either tableau when they follow that side's building rule.
• Cards move to the foundations automatically once they can't be built on anymore—you can change this behavior in Settings.
• Empty piles in either tableau accept any card.
• You get 3 passes through the stock in total—click the empty stock to turn the waste back over and start the next pass.

How to win

Objective: Move all 104 cards to the eight foundation piles.

You win when all 104 cards reach the foundations. Keeping both tableau halves moving takes careful planning.

Tips

• Remember the two tableaus use different rules: opposite colors on the left, matching suit on the right.
• Use the reserve strategically to bridge gaps between the two tableau halves.

Play Demons and Thieves free on Windows

CardTray is a free solitaire app for Windows that includes Demons and Thieves alongside 300+ other games. It saves every move as you play, so you can close the window and pick the game up later, replay any deal, and take on a new Daily Challenge deal every day. Browse every game in the Game Gallery.

Related games

More games from the Canfield family:

• Kansas — Start each game with a random base rank that sets the tone for your foundations.
• Balcony — An unusual solitaire where the foundation base rank is randomized each game instead of always being Ace, and a reserve of seven cards sits to the side for strategic play.
• Blondes and Brunettes — A two-deck variant where a single dealt card determines the starting rank for all foundations, which then build up in opposite colors as you work through the waste and reserve piles.